Into Bulgaria's Mystic Mountains

Bulgaria's mountains are regarded as vast and biodiverse. They are a paradise for hikers. You can find ancient civilizations, travel on medieval trade routes or visit mythical places. Since the region was a military restricted area at the time of the Iron Curtain, a flora and fauna has been preserved that has long since disappeared elsewhere. They are one of the last refuges for the European brown bear and the lynx, which has become very rare in Europe. So this expedition through Bulgaria's mountains is a journey into one of the most varied Landscapes of Europe.

Registered users and subscribers sign in here:

Not registered? To view this content you need to be a registered user of C21Media.net.
You can register for free, and it takes just a few seconds. Hit the register button now!
You will then be able to access this content, and lots more great stuff on the site.

Into Bulgaria's Mystic Mountains

2 x 52' (ENG), 2 x 45' (GER, FRE)

The Balkan Mountains stretch from the northwest of Bulgaria to the Black Sea coast. Deep valleys edge between the mountain massifs of the Stara Planina, the Old Mountains, as the Balkan Mountains are called in Bulgaria. The massifs extend along a distance of over 600 kilometers, with a pronounced promontory on its northern side and steep slopes to the south. It is defined by passes and cleaved by valleys making the Balkan Mountains multifaceted.

The red “Belogradchik Sandstone Rocks” go up to 200 meters. They were created through tectonic shifts millions of years ago, and now these stone formations extend along a distance of around 30 kilometers. The rocks consist of red sandstone conglomerate, they break easily and are therefore a challenge for every climber. The area is a paradise for climbers: 500 cliffs and nearly 1000 climbing paths. 18-year-old Todor is one of Bulgaria's most talented rock climbers, he has already mastered 200 of them. We follow him mastering the “Finger”, a 70-meter-high cliff. For his companion Angel it is the first time on this cliff.

The Central Balkans are the highest and wildest portion of the Balkan range. Most of the area is protected inside the national park with the same name. In area, it is one of the largest national parks in Europe and one of the last refuges for brown bears. Vladimir Todorov is a biologist who specializes in these large predators. A female bear is caught in the trap of a poacher. We accompany Vladimir in his attempt to save the young bear.